MAKINGTHE CHANGE

Annual Report 2014

Sharing the Harvest Community Farm at the Dartmouth YMCA

Growing Food, Friends and a Future

Derek HeimDartmouth YMCAExecutive Director

Dear Friends, Colleagues, Volunteers & Supporters:

Feeling like a broken record, 2014 was our best year yet at Sharing the Harvest. Donating 82,242.4 pounds of fresh food to fight hunger, we surpassed our self-imposed goal by more than 17,000 pounds!

Through the combined efforts of 3,186 volunteer visits culminating in 8,100 hours of their time and talent, Sharing the Harvest was able to prepare, plant, cultivate, harvest and donate more than 328,000 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables for our neighbors in need from Fall River to New Bedford to Wareham.

Serving 17 food pantries and emergency-feeding programs, Sharing the Harvest has donated almost 400,000 pounds of local, healthy food since we first planted in 2006.

Through those first nine years a lot has changed. The produce amounts have changed, the volunteer hours have changed, the crops have changed, the fields have changed and the staff has changed, but one thing has remained constant, the commitment. Whether it was the staff, or the volunteers, or the Farm Committee, or the belief behind the mission, the commitment from everyone, even though they all had unique reasons for believing in it, remained constant. We are donating time, treasure and talent to feed our friends and fellow citizens. We are committed to acting, to action, to results and to making the change needed toward healthy communities.

And while we continue to grow and change and improve and refine, all involved will continue to carry that commitment to action and that drive to still make the change into our tenth year and beyond.

With utmost sincerity,

Daniel H. KingSharing the Harvest Community Farm Director

Sharing the Harvest Community Farm has three major objectives:• Alleviate Hunger for children, families and adults in need of food assistance

throughout the south coast of Massachusetts by growing and distributing nutritional food to food pantries, soup kitchens and emergency feeding programs from Fall River to Wareham.

• Promote volunteerism and an awareness of hunger in our communities, and build our community through neighbors helping neighbors.

• Teach volunteers about farming, agriculture, nutrition, nature and food origination.

Though the major focus of Sharing the Harvest is growing nutritional food to relieve hunger, this program promotes volunteerism and fosters the education of volunteers and the community-at-large to understand and confront the reality of hunger in their own communities.

Local emergency feeding programs cannot provide sufficient amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables to satisfy the health needs for well-balanced meals, especially for young children and seniors. Fresh produce is cost prohibitive for many low and low-middle income families in our region, which leads to poor nourishment among a variety of other health concerns. The key to the problem was finding a low-cost supplier that could grow, harvest and prepare fresh crops for emergency feeding programs with a one-day turnaround. Sharing the Harvest Community Farm was the answer.

Sharing the Harvest also promotes financial stewardship and partnerships between public, private, non-profit and government agencies. These agencies work with local residents of all ages, incomes, abilities and creeds to fight hunger in their community by growing and distributing fresh vegetables to thousands of neighbors in need.

Community volunteers from businesses, schools and civic organizations bring their energy and their enthusiasm to help fulfill our mission to grow nutritious food to feed the hungry in our community. The farm continues to create the civic involvement, goodwill, and spirit of volunteerism that we had hoped and continues to mobilize thousands of volunteers to make a difference in their community. The overall success of the Sharing the Harvest Community Farm will have a substantial long-term impact on the lives of thousands of low-income children, families and seniors at risk in local communities.

The Sharing the Harvest Mission

Sharing the Harvest Community Farm is a grassroots effort to alleviate hunger at the local level. Sharing the Harvest was created at the Dartmouth YMCA in 2006 for the express purpose of producing fresh, local, and healthy fruits and vegetables for distribution by the Hunger Commission, program of the United Way of Greater New Bedford. While the Hunger Commission has provided food

for local food pantries and soup kitchens since 1987, they’ve had no consistent supplier of nutritious, fresh vegetables. Sharing the Harvest Community Farm filled that niche.

Since 2006, Sharing the Harvest has provided 289,756 pounds (or 1.16 million servings) of fresh, local, healthy produce and has been home to 14,028 volunteer visits which have collectively donated 34,365 hours of their time and talent.

History of Sharing the Harvest

Sharing the Harvest Community Farm is a volunteer-driven initiative under the direction of Dan King, Farm Director, Derek Heim, Executive Director of the Dartmouth YMCA, Emma Rainwater, AmeriCorps*VISTA Volunteer Development Coordinator, Emily Secor, AmeriCorps*VISTA Farm Education Specialist, and the Farm Committee, our volunteer steering committee.

The United Way of Greater New Bedford assists with both volunteer recruitment and community outreach. The United Way’s Hunger Commission picks up the produce almost daily and distributes it to local food pantries, soup kitchens and other emergency feeding programs, ensuring that 100% of the food grown on the Sharing the Harvest Community Farm reaches the people in need in our community.

Our Organizational Structure

Sharing the Harvest, through the Hunger Commission, serves:Hunger Agencies Served

• Veterans Transition House of New Bedford• Pilgrim Church Soup Kitchen of New Bedford• Catholic Social Services of New Bedford• M.O.L.I.F.E. of New Bedford• Immigrants Assistance Center of New Bedford• St. Anthony of Padua of New Bedford• Red Cross of New Bedford• Harbour House of New Bedford

• House of Hope of New Bedford• Harmony House of New Bedford• Salvation Army of both New Bedford and Fall River• Citizens for Citizen of Fall River• Veterans Association of Fall River• Damien’s Place in Wareham• Reflections of New Bedford• P.A.C.E. of New Bedford• Holy Spirit of the Ascension of Fall River

Sharing the Harvest Community Farm provides free opportunities for school groups to visit, volunteer, explore and learn at the farm and on the Dartmouth YMCA property. Our goal at the farm is to provide this opportunity for both the educational and civic opportunities it affords, and while providing these no-cost field trips requires additional funding, Sharing the Harvest is committed to allocating the program dollars needed to the development of a comprehensive

program that will help teachers bring students to an active outdoor agricultural classroom.

While at the farm, students connect with agriculture and nature in an old-fashioned way, with their hands. While visiting, the students work in the soil, pass through the pastures and wander in the woods. While part of their experience is volunteering and part is exploring, all of it affords the children a real connection to food production, food origination, and the natural farm environment. Sharing the Harvest provides them with an opportunity to get their hands in the dirt and their eyes in the wild to learn while giving back to their community.

Depending on the weather and the season, kids are given the opportunity to perform various tasks on the farm, including, but certainly not limited to: preparing beds for planting, sowing seeds in the soil, transplanting seedlings, cultivating crops and harvesting and preparing produce. Sharing the Harvest Community Farm provides students a place to explore new territories, taste new flavors, touch new textures and see new sights while learning about agriculture and the role it plays in our personal and community-wide well-being.

School field trips and student education is one of the many successes Sharing the Harvest has celebrated, and it has been most effective due to the positive impact volunteerism and community partnerships can have in solving community issues. Through ongoing relationships with local schools and non-profit organizations, farmers and residents, we are all helping to fight hunger and solve a serious community need. Thanks to volunteerism in the south coast, Sharing the Harvest is making a difference improving the quality of life for thousands of low-income children, families and seniors in our community.

Schools that visited the farm in 2014 were: Dartmouth Middle School RARE Achievers, United Way’s spring Day of Caring event (with local high school students from New Bedford High School, Greater New Bedford Vocational Technical High School, Fairhaven High School), Tabor Academy, Carney Academy, Rochester Memorial School, Nativity Preparatory School, DeMello School, Alma Del Mar Charter School, Global Learning Charter School, Southeast Massachusetts Education Collaborative, Beckwith Middle School, Community Connections, Crossroads for Kids, Bay State College Alternative Spring Break, UMass Dartmouth, UMass Dartmouth Alternative Spring Break, and Fall River Kids2College.

Thank you!

Education and Outreach

SUPPORT Special Thanks To Our SupportersAAA Southern New EnglandGeorge H AbbotDorothy E AghaiKathryn M AisenbergAstro-Med, IncJoel S AvilaBenjamin & Deborah BakerJohn R BeauregardBlack Bass GrillBrix Bounty FarmDavid A BrownellShirley P ButterworthDorothy CabralChiropractic USA at Faunce CornerChristian Science SocietyComcast FoundationCommunity Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts - Sustainable SouthCoast FundCommunity Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts - James Arnold FundCommunity Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts - New Bedford Rotary Club FundConcordia Company LLC/Stuart McGregorEsmeralda S CostaCove Pediatrics, LLCBarbara A CraveiroCrystal Ice Co. IncDarden Restaurants, Inc FoundationDartmouth GrangeDePuy Synthes SpineDestination Soups, IncLaura DillZelinda and John DouhanDonna M EdbergEvangelical Lutheran Church in AmericaFarm Credit East, ACARobert B Feingold & Associates, PCFire Systems IncFirst Citizens Federal Credit UnionHenry E Foley, JrCarol ForfaDon & Mary FronzagliaGarden Club of Buzzards BayGail DavidsonGlaser GlassRuben GoldsteinWalter J GrandaJennifer HallMelissa E HaskellElizabeth A HeimHumphrey, Covill & Coleman Insurance Agency, IncIsland FoundationJCM Electrical Contractors, Inc

Beverly & David King Donald C KingWilliam & Kimberly KleinfeldKurtz Family FundCarolyn & Robert LytleCharles H MacomberMassachusetts Service AllianceMr and Mrs Gregory MayhewRebecca & Charles W McCulloughGertrude E MedickeMary Elizabeth MedickeRichard J MedickeDaniel D MoraisAlice MorganJustin MortensenAnita K MosesNeto Insurance Agency, IncNot Your Average Joe’s IncJoseph O’ConnellPeter J OuellettePecora CorporationPrime EngineeringRP Valois & CoAndrea Reno & Wade HamptonJames R RiceHetty K RooseveltShannon Jenkins & Doug RoscoeGary & Donna SchuylerE Ann SheehanCharlie SimmonsRaymond M SmithSouth Wharf Yacht YardSouthern Mass Credit UnionJanice SpeakmanSpherionClay & Clara StitesDavid A TatelbaumTexas RoadhouseThe Carney Family Charitable FoundationThe Congregational Church of So. DartmouthThe Robert F Stoico/FIRSTFED Charitable FdnThe Vela FoundationJ Mark TreadupWilliam & Suzanna TrimbleUMass DartmouthUnitarian Universalist Society of FairhavenBetty Ussach-SchwartzMarge WaiteAnne WebbErin WilliamsYouth Service AmericaFred & Jane Zimmermann

Agricultural Production Review

MONTHPRODUCE WEIGHT

May 135.8

June 2,297

July 25,232.2

August 25,853.2

September 12,418.8

October 12,279.4

November 4,026

TOTAL 82,242.4

The Harvest in DetailMonthly Harvest

The 2014 growing season was our most successful to date. In 2014, Sharing the Harvest Community Farm planted, grew, and donated 82,242.4 pounds of fresh healthy produce to the United Way’s Hunger Commission.

Thanks to the 8,100 hours of volunteer service in 2014, we were able to produce and donate 21,677 more pounds of fresh vegetables than in 2013. That 36% increase is phenomenal and would not be possible without the thousands of hardworking volunteers who visited the farm. Coupled with the donations from the previous seven seasons, Sharing the Harvest has donated more than 289,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables to local hunger relief since 2006.

Donations by Crop

Crop 2014 lbs 2013 lbs 2013-2014 Difference 2012 lbs 2011 lbs 2010 lbs

Asparagus 135.8 123.8 12 0 0 0

Beans 110.6 0 110.6

Beets 366.2 196 170.2 906.2 413 224.5

Berries 41 10 31 0 0 0

Broccoli 0 44.2 -44.2 43.8 200.5 16

Cabbage 631.2 0 631.2

Carrots 0 419 -419 789.2 0 4

Cherry Tomatoes 2421.2 1472.8 948.4 1929.8 53 183

Cucumbers 11892.6 9152 2740.6 2092.2 4140 3325.5

Eggplant 10408.8 6077.4 4331.4 3576 2160.5 433

Greens 139.6 0 139.6

Kale 2696 3678.2 -982.2 2183.2 1880.5 1406.5

Leeks 0 92.2 -92.2 279.4 337.5 118

Lettuce 818.8 187.6 631.2 74.2 73.5 505

Onions 524 64 460 168.2 699 279

Peppers 5340.8 5990.2 -649.4 3480.8 2234 471

Potatoes 267 96.2 170.8 129.4 223 91

Rhubarb 7.4 4.8 2.6 13 0 0

Scallions 1010.4 477.6 532.8 366.6 834 321

Squash 13036.4 7798.4 5238 6139.2 4276 1486

Swiss Chard 745.8 582.6 163.2 572.6 454.5 247.5

Tomatoes 10478.8 4707.4 5771.4 6680.4 1765.5 2245

Turnips 2942.8 5504 -2561.2 2060 5075 2026

Winter Squash 12668.4 9139.6 3528.8 9871.4 6108 4912.5

Zucchini 5558.8 4747.4 811.4 1967.6 1853.5 15

In 2014, Sharing the Harvest Community Farm had 3,186 volunteer visits totaling in a combined 8,100 hours of volunteer service. That is up 577 visits and 1,260 hours of volunteer service from 2013. Those increases represent a 22% increase in volunteer visits from 2013 and a 18% increase in hours volunteered. Each year Sharing the Harvest continues to grow with volunteer visits and hours worked, and for that we’re thankful, as each new volunteer visit and hour worked allows up to provide more healthy food for our neighbors in need.

When averaged over time, each volunteer visit in 2014 equated to 25.8 pounds per visit, up from 22.8 pounds per visit in 2013. When figuring pounds per hour, each hour worked at the farm produced 10.2 pounds of food donated.

2014 Volunteer Drop-in hours remained identical to 2013. They were: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday from 9 am to 12 pm and 2 pm to 5 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 12 pm.

Volunteer groups that visited Sharing the Harvest in 2014 were: Bay State College Alternative Spring Break, St. Julie’s Youth Group, New Bedford Youth Build, UMass Dartmouth Alternative Spring Break, Hope Service Corps, Tabor Academy, Comcast Cares Day, YMCA Southcoast, New Bedford Young Professionals, Veterans Transition House, Congregational Church of South Dartmouth, Farm Credit East, ACA, St. Peter’s Church, First Congregational Church of Wareham, Johnson & Johnson, North Middleborough First Congregational Church, UpWard Bound, PAACA’s Green Youth Brigade, New Bedford Mayor’s Learn And Serve, The Trustees of Reservations Conservation Corps, Southcoast Youth Court Community Service, Santander Bank, St. Vincent’s, REEL Serious, YMCA Adventures @ Metro West YMCA, UMass Dartmouth Student Ambassadors, Target, FedEx, RJ Reynolds, NSTAR, Saint Anne’s Hospital, First Citizens Federal Credit Union, and Zeta, Lambda, Chi.

Additionally, regarding individual volunteers, Sharing the Harvest hosted 11 volunteer leaders who volunteered 50 hours or more, from which five volunteered more than 100 hours. Thank you leaders! We could not have done it without you!

Volunteer Information

Volunteer Groups

Tim DoolanAndre Goyer

Liz HeskethCarolyn Lytle

Patrick McCarthyBen Pierpont

Thank You 2014 Volunteer Leaders!Anne MorseAnita Moses

Richard Soares Susan Wood

Margaret Ishihara Efrain MontalvoJeff Morse

In addition to the great volunteers working in the fields, Sharing the Harvest hosted two pairs of AmeriCorps*VISTAs in 2014.

From January 2014 through July 2014, Megan Berthiaume and Ellen Selley served as the Health & Wellness Specialist and Volunteer Development Coordinator, respectively. While they were here volunteering, they helped build the organizational capacity of the farm through building our volunteer base, starting the Volunteer Leader program, and developing and publishing the Harvest Health cookbook and nutrition and recipe cards for all the crops grown and donated here. Megan and Ellen did a fantastic job helping to move the farm to the next level.

Beginning in September 2014, Emma Rainwater and Marah Holland came on board as the new AmeriCorps*VISTAs in the positions of Volunteer Development Coordinator and Farm Education Specialist. In 2014, they helped to dramatically improve the Volunteer Leader program and volunteer experience as well as successfully fundraising for farm education and infrastructure expansion.

AmeriCorps*VISTAs

Volunteer Information by Month

The steady growth of the farm’s volunteer hours over the past nine seasons has demonstrated that Sharing the Harvest is not only improving stewardship of the land, but also reconnecting our youth and our volunteers with nature all while enhancing the social fabric of our communities. Both the crop fields and the woods serve as an outdoor classroom for the school-age children, campers, businesses and individuals.

Furthermore, the property affords itself to creating a live, dynamic environment for visitors and guests of all kinds as the property provides open access to anyone.

Working with Nature

MONTH2014

NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS

2013NUMBER OF

VOLUNTEERSDIFFERENCE

2014HOURS

WORKED

2013HOURS

WORKEDDIFFERENCE

January 0 0 0 0 0 0

February 0 6 -6 0 14 -14

March 58 55 3 138 117 21

April 228 235 -7 628 741 -113

May 630 331 299 1544 844 700

June 512 252 260 965 507 458

July 555 421 134 1650 1337 313

August 515 406 109 1545 1244 301

September 400 466 -66 824.5 1046 -221.5

October 191 305 -114 514 688 -174

November 97 120 -23 292 262 30

December 0 12 -12 0 40 -40

There were no terrible crop diseases at the farm in 2014. The crops did suffer from some regular destruction by pests, specifically deer eating the green bean plants and woodchucks regularly eating the cucumber and summer squash plants. Also, in the spring, a chipmunk continued to wreak havoc on our spring cucurbit plantings.

Crop Diseases

2014 Sharing the Harvest Funding2013 Funding Spread

Funding Amount %Contributions $36,159 37%

Grants $59,790 60%

Special Events $3,311 3%

While there were no major changes to the fields in 2014 at Sharing the Harvest, there were some great changes in the wash and preparation areas. In the spring of 2014, volunteers removed much of the slippery loam from the wash station and moved in 10”+ of crushed stone for a dry, well-draining wash area. Additionally, in the summer, Sharing the Harvest fundraised for a much-needed larger walk-in cooler. Moving up from an 8’x8’ room, Sharing the Harvest now has an 8’x20’ professional walk-in refrigerator.

Another change at the farm was the moving of the compost area to plow under some beautiful valley soil on the south end of the fields.

Infrastructural Changes

Megan BerthiaumeNancy BonellDerek ChristiansonMarah HollandDerek W. HeimShannon JenkinsBeverly H. KingDaniel H. KingRebecca McCullough

Sharing the Harvest Farm CommitteeRichard J. MedickeJustin MortensenRoseanne O’ConnellEmma RainwaterCarolyn RobertsGary SchuylerEllen SelleyWilliam ShellBryan Wood

2014 was our best season yet. Volunteers at Sharing the Harvest Community Farm planted, cultivated and donated 82,242.4 pounds of fresh, local, healthy produce to our neighbors in need along the Southcoast.

That huge volume of food is all thanks to the tremendous effort of 3,186 volunteer visits which provided 8,100 hours of volunteer service. Without those volunteers and the farm’s supporters, none of the 41 tons of produce donated would have been available for the United Way’s Hunger Commission In 2014 Sharing the Harvest donated 21,677 more pounds of fresh, local produce than in 2013 made possible by the 577 additional volunteer visits and 1,260 more labor hours donated.

Now with 2015 upon, we have the even-greater goal to surpass 82,000 pounds of food donated, so please, join us this season to make it the best season ever!

Summary

Summary

276 Gulf Road Dartmouth MA 02748508.993.3361 ∙ ymcasouthcoast.org